Ooo, deep.

I don't really know why I wanted to answer these. They're not my style. But for some reason, I'm here. Answering them.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

25

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Oh gimme a break, no one is going to put "failing." Even though I really really don't like keeping trying and trying and failing.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

IKNOWRITE

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

Yeah, probs. I talk big talk, people. And I write big writes. Doing...eh, not so much.

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

Religious conflict. I think that's the root to soooooo many problems. Why can't those who choose to be devout leave those who have a different set of beliefs BE??? Do they really think they can change how someone thinks? How effing disrespectful. I hate it.

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Reading. Puzzling (crossword; kakuro). Scrapbooking.

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

These days, it's the latter. But it's because of the physical space I work in, not because of my career choice.

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

God, that's depressing. I don't even feel growed up at 34.

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

A lot of it. I settled in Columbia by choice, after trying out various other avenues by choice. Went looking for significant others proactively, and met my soul partner thusly. I went to school for the career that I now have--a job which fell into my lap.

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Umm....that first one.

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

Defend her ferociously. No one talks bad about my peeps. I'd make them feel guilty about doing so, too.

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Wow, no pressure. Umm...."Your parents don't know everything, sweetheart. They know a lot. But not everything."

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Um, yeah...duh!

Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

Yeah...Emo Philips, for one.

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Hold a pencil/knife; put my socks and shoes on; kiss

How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

Uhh...we're all different people here...just because I like drinking olive brine straight from the jar doesn't mean I'm baffled that other people don't. If everyone got happy at the exact same things, how boring a world would we live in?!!

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?

I want to get a tattoo. I'm scared of the pain....the cost...and that i might cry every time I see it

Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

HA! Story of my FREAKING LIFE! Have you seen our storage unit?? My scrapbook room?? And yes...emotionally...yes.

If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

Country: Canada. Don't know much about it, but you can't say anything bad about universal health care and no guns. Oh, and P.E.I.!!!

State: California, the Carolinas, NY (but only C), some other new-englandy state, PacNW, NM, Ill(but only Chicago), Wisconsin or Iowa if I develop a tolerance for winter.

I'd move for a great job, or family, or weather.

Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

I used to, but I'm older and more cynical now.

Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

Joyful simpleton, hands down a million times. There's little joy in being smart. (I hope that doesn't sound snobby.)

Why are you, you?

Wow. Heavy.

Nurture, but mostly nature.

Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

I try to be. But sometimes I'm really not. And I hate myself for it. :(

Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

Losing touch. I can deal with a LDR/friendship (shout-out to most everyone who reads this! Love you!)

What are you most grateful for?

Love in my life.

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

Holy yikes! I guess lose old ones. I don't want to live for the past.

Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

Nope.

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

Yeah. But I have several. Just please do not let me ever be in a car sinking into water and I'll be okay.

Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

I TOTALLY do, damnit! And no it effing doesn't! LET IT GO, GEN!!!

What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?

1. When Mom came to pick me up to tell me about Lily in her tummy. She made me feel incredibly special.

2. Mom wakes me up at 3...4...something...AM, and in the chilly darkness we throw on sweats and head out to the University observatory. Hailey's Comet could be seen that night through the ginormous, scary telescope (not calling it Halley's no matter how wrong that makes me), and it was thrilling to be out with other families in the middle of the night experiencing this crazy thing together. Hardee's on the way home for breakfast, and then she lets me watch Mighty Mouse when I get home. It's Saturday morning and I've never seen Sat AM cartoons this early. Again...I felt special....coddled...on a secret mission.

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

Hmm....I haven't danced recently...or played a spirited game of Celebrity...or seen Rent...

Oh! Wait, yes...a few friends and I went to Mamma Mia at Jesse this year. Singing and dancing and watching old people dance...that was a trip!

If not now, then when?

IKNOWRITE

If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

Sorry charlie...there's generally something to lose.

Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

Heck yeah. ;)

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

THIS IS WHAT I AM SAYING.

Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

Hell no.

If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

Hell yes.

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

The more work enjoy thing.

Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

Not this day because it's all Christmassy up in here. But if not for the Christmas part...then yes. Yes yes yes. I've lived it daily for three years.

When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

I'm pretty scared of the dark. Physically and metaphorically.

If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

Hi, I hate this question.

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

Eff no.

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

Being alive is merely physical. Living is making the most out of that alive body and soul.

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

If I know it's right...then it's time as soon as I realize that.

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Cuz it sucks, yo!

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Dance in public

When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

Just a moment ago when I was thinking about childhood memories. :)

What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

What do I love? Really? I'm impatient with these questions. I love a lot. A lot of people, a lot of things. And yes, I try and always express it.

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before

that? Or the day before that?

With some prodding, yes. My memory is the bane of my existence.

Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Until a month ago I would have said I'm letting others make them. But now I'm trying to make them for myself. A year ago...same thing.

June 16 - June 24

What are some secrets that you've never shared with anyone?

Um...this is not a question I want to answer. I'll make up another one instead!

Substitute question:

What are your favorite numbers?

7 and 9. They are both so pretty! Girl numbers.

What songs would be included in the sound track to your life?

Number one: I'm not much of a music person. I don't identify with it, at any rate. I don't listen to a song and think "OMIGAWD THAT IS SOOOOOO ME." I don't get inspiration from effing Miley Cyrus singing about some Climb.

Number two: 'sound track' should be one word.

I'm not starting out this blog post very well. Two bad questions. Let's see if the third is better...

What are your favorite restaurants?

OK, I can handle this one.

Fast[er] food: McDonald's [except that icky Coke], Chipotle [I never remember what my favorite meat is called but it doesn't even matter because it's all super], the current incarnation of Domino's [genius!], Taco Bell [Volcano Nachos and a Classic Limeade Sparkler PLEEZ!], Panera [Chicken Frontega sandwich, bread bowl of Broccoli Cheese, and a loaf of unsliced Asiago to go!], In & Out [Animal style, obvies], The Great Greek [Saganaki! In LA, unfortch], Sbarro [Regular pepperoni with the crust dipped in the cupped cheese sauce. I know, it sounds weird], Mr. Goodcents [it was better in HS than it is now--but still, so good], Jimmy John's [THE VITO!], Portillo's [Italian beef with mozz, chocolate cake shake, the HOT DOGS...even the freaking salads are amazing], Au Bon Pain [never a disappointment], and whatever sandwich shop in England sells this one chicken sandwich that somehow cannot be replicated in the States. [EVERY SANDWICH SHOP sells them there, for serious.]

Sit-downs: Dewey's Pizza [I mourn that my favoritest ever, salami and pepperoni, was merely a seasonal selection], Shakespeare's [Sausage and pepperoni, room temperature], International Cafe [gyro gyro gyro!], India's Kitchen (formerly Rasoi) [Lamb Korma. Forever and always], Macaroni Grill [penne with extra buffalo mozz and arrabiata], Cheesecake Factory, CPK [call me boring, but their pepperoni is fabulous], Dharma Blue [in Pensacola. so amazing], Booche's [can't believe i hadn't tried this Columbia tradition until I was in my 20s!], Steak n Shake [Wisconsin Buttery or Cheesy Cheddar], Bleu [when they were good, that is], Sophia's [Brandy Cream Filet...Caesar salad...that one dessert they renamed and I forgot what it's called, but it's a brownie coated in ganache and then filled with hazelnut cream and O...M...G], 42 Stone [rarebit!], TGIFriday's, Flat Branch [cookie sundae], Bangkok Gardens [phat thai], Jimbo's [RIP, Grinnell Style Pepperoni].

OH MY GOOD LORD I AM HUNGRY NOW.

What were your favorite games to play at recess?

EEEEE SO FUN!!!

Okay here's what it was. It kinda switched up according to what was cool. So sometimes we'd all play four square and there would be a huge line for it, and we'd play by different rules and some were babyish (Unit A rules) and very proper, and some were WILD AND CRAZY (Unit Z rules!) and you could be really mean.

When I was super young, the girls would try to do tricks on the bars. I could do a penny flip but that was it. I bet that's deemed as 'too dangerous' nowadays. Oh, and a couple times a group of us [always girls] would go out to the corner of the field and play 'Light as a feather, stiff as a board.' That was so stupid. :)

If Alena and I were feeling cliqueish, we'd run to get the pair of swings and gossip. When she chose others to join us, we'd crawl inside the big cement tunnel and also gossip.

Oooh! Chinese jump rope. LOVED IT. I would so totally play that again. You had to wear your Keds while playing, though. Regular sneaks were too wide and you had to make your feet as skinny as possible so you wouldn't jump on the rope. That game was really hard to practice alone because you needed two pairs of feet holding each end.

When the New Equipment was installed in 5th grade, of course we had to break that in. And a tetherball pole was included, so *that* became The Thing To Do. There would always be a line, and when one person won, they got to keep playing until they lost. The line would chant "Go Sarah, no offense Jennifer!" and I always wondered what "noah fence" meant. But I said it anyway. Dad put a tetherball pole in our backyard too, but I never got super good. I always loved it though.

That was a really good question.

If you had to teach, what classes would you teach?

How To Play Celebrity

Slow, Slow Scrapbooking

How To Print Double-Sided

Why the Dewey Decimal System Sucks Balls

How To Find A Really Cheap Hotel Room

What activities make you lose track of time?

Online game play. Of any sort.

Phone-talking to a good phone-talker.

Blogging.

Pea-ing.

Being in the water.

Archiver's. :)

Spending time with good friends who I don't get to see very much. Yes, that means you!

What are the worst hairdos you have ever had?

Oh man. OH MAN.

My current hairdo isn't my favorite. I don't like how it looks when it's down. At least it's not driving me crazy. BUT, I'm kind of liking my shampoo-off days...I do a half-Snooki pouf in front and do the rest in two pigtails. They're really short and kind of squirt out of the pony holder (Goody Stay-Put, black) and I think it's kinda cute.

I've never loved my hairdo. I've loved my actual hair, but I hate dealing with it when it's down, so I put it up--and I hate how that looks when it's long. Totally unflattering. So that's one.

7th grade. Oh dear.

I always had good hair--manageable, a bit wavy, thick (which I later learned to be FINE hair, but a TON if it, so it looks thick). I had it shoulder-length and it was absolutely fine. I had it permed and it looked totally cute.

Then...1989 happened. I went to get a cut at Fantastic Sam's and she asked if I wanted layers. "Um...sure" I said, not really knowing what she meant. Nothing anyone had ever done to my hair had made it any less pretty or anything, so what the hell?

Except...she meant, dramatic layers. 1980s layers. Layers that feathered and thinned as they got longer. Layers that might have been on trend at that time, but were meant to be slaved over every day to get the right look. And if you didn't do that slaving...well, you looked like THIS:

[I probably should scan one of my photos from that era and put it in here. But everyone knows this isn't a photo blog. And I'm camera-shy, people! Come on.]

So, no photo. Just understand that I looked TURRIBLE. Yep, with a "U." I don't even deserve proper spelling. TURRIBLE. I looked kind of like a dog? Like a wet dog or cat? but not cute. I had yet to grow into my nose (I think it's okay now) and I didn't care how I dressed and it was just...like, so bad. If I could relive it I would, because then I could be like "OK Gen! Let's get that hair CHOPPED off instead of trying to grow out the layers. Let's buy some clothes at places other than Fashion Gal, and jump on that pinch-rolling bandwagon much sooner than you did. Don't be afraid of the curling iron! Or mascara! Let's get a lot of pastel-plaid printed stuff and a white cardigan and ROCK THE PREP! You are a size four, for God's sake! YOU WILL NEVER BE THIS SIZE AGAIN!"

And then....AND THEN...I permed it. A perm looked fine before, I thought...it'll be fine again. Oh, no. No it wasn't. I now had a mullet-y 'fro. I don't know how long I kept that before getting a 'reverse perm' (I don't think they offered a permanent hair straightening thing back then), but it wasn't long.

I learned in the course of 7th grade that I should do the doughnut-roll bang thing, and did that every day of 8th grade. yep, it was bad--but I had Lawman jeans and Gap khakis and real Polo shirts so I looked more like everyone else. But the bad hair didn't fully grow out until 9th grade.

Last one for today:

What are your favorite memories from the past year?

L.A. at Christmas for a week. Our hotel was SO charmingly quirky and Sherman Oaks a surprising delight.

Orlando/Groveland in February. I sooooo needed that visit. I needed Lindsay, I needed Olivia and Sophia, I needed orange groves...I needed Florida in February. And I hope to continue to do so. :)

Visiting Shanners and Will in Illinois/Indiana. Love you, gurl.

Getting to know Lucy and seeing Noah grow. Taking Em to Red Lead Paperworks.

Sarah's bachelorette party at the Hotel Frederick, bridal shower at Les Bourgeois (and I hate showers! I KNOW!), and wedding weekend in Wichita. Oh, and the visit when she asked me to be a bridesmaid because I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ONE!!!

St Louis trips with Neil, ending with our most recent one to see the PJ movie. It was all so perfect!

And...PARTS of the beach house week in Oak Island and the day and a half in Florida. There were *parts* that were absolutely wonderful. :)

I know I'm forgetting something awesome. Dang it. Oh well...

June 6 - June 15

Holy crap I got a good night's sleep. I have, as usual, been getting a shameful amount per night since Saturday--5 hours tops. It's KILLING ME! Last night we ran a coupla errands after work, got home at 6:20, kept our eyes propped open for DVR'ed Jersey Shore...and crashed. I feel asleep twice before finally getting officially ready for bed at 9, even though the Cardinals had just scored over the Astros and Atlanta had lost making us SOSOSOCLOSE to the playoffs. Tonight will tell.

I slept until 5:30 today, getting up willingly and cheerfully after some weird-ass dreams. Because of my schedule/tiredness, I didn't get an evening workout in yesterday, AGAIN, and burned 2825. But that's better than my normal sitting rate of 2200-something, right??

What foreign cities would you like to visit someday?

Cairo, or wherever the Great Pyramids/Sphinx are.
Anywhere in Luxembourg, or southern France.
Barcelona (and anywhere in Spain).
Dublin (and anywhere in Ireland).
Bath and London and Stratford again.
Anywhere in Prince Edward Island. I check plane fares every so often...
Toronto. Vancouver.
Athens, then a beachside small town in Greece.
A charming small coastal town in Italy.
A tropical island, but Hawaii would probably be fine...so 'foreign' isn't a requirement.
Jalisco, Mexico. And Tlaquepaque. I can't believe I spelled that right!


Which qualities inspire you the most?

Resourcefulness/thrift. Hard working. Living every moment to the fullest. Choosing to be (and stay) happy. Deep and honest kindness/selflessness. Fearlessness. The ability to let go of unimportant things.


What makes you happiest in a relationship?

I'm going to take this to mean a romantic one...
Lots of good kissing. The ability to talk about everything and nothing. Taking care of one another. Common interests. A private language.


What do you think about the current state of the economy?

I guess that it sucks. It hasn't affected me directly very dramatically, except that Nixon (who I used to be supportive of) took away our day-after-Thanksgiving vacation day and switched insurance so we all have deductibles, so he could save money on the state budget. But it's made me more aware of the utterly ridiculous things the government *does* spend money on instead. Like having a special legislative session now in which nothing's getting done--and that's costing us $25,000 a day.


What days of your life would you like to live over again?

Whoa, this is hard! And cool. And deeper than I had imagined.

The day Neil and I talked about how we really felt...early on. And the day he first told me he loved me, and the day we first talked about marriage. Last Tuesday was awfully amazing, too...and lots of days like that, in between!

I don't know what year it was, but that one Christmas Eve we had Olive Garden, then piled into the van giggling madly...went to Unity to hear Steve sing (and sat by the window beside the amazingly-lit tree outside)...and drove around in high spirits looking at Christmas lights. There may have also been Milk Punch involved. It's a similar experience every year. :)

Iowa City scrapbook-shopping spree, Chicago scrap shopping, Des Moines scrap shopping with Linz, and the day in St Louis that Emily and I stumbled on a scrap store with *everything*, even a ton of current items, 60-75% off, and THEN she took me to Archiver's for the first time ever. And the day Ali and I cropped at Archiver's was pretty damned fun.

My first time being driven into NYC. Holy MOLY. I was so in love I wanted to cry. Mom took me, Steve, and Steve's friend Patty, and from the moment the car picked us up at the airport and we started to see the city lights, I felt an ache like my heart would burst. Our hotel was right off Times Square and incredibly charming. Even though it was late by the time we arrived (and we were planning on going to the Today Show early the next morning), we were so hyped up that we walked down to 30 Rockefeller Plaza that night. A crew was building a stage, and we asked what it was for--Riverdance, they told us. Steve, ever the gregarious one, started chatting with one of the construction guys, who offered to let us into the studio. We walked right into the area that Katie and Al and Matt and Ann sat every day, in complete wonder that we were able to get an insider's look on our very first day.

Arriving in LA for the first time...in awe of the flowery smell everywhere and the big-city feel, but not intimidatingly so. Eating a late dinner at a fantastic restaurant with open-to-the-street french doors.

And some days...I can't mention. ;)


If you could get a message across to a large group of people; what would your message be?

FIRSTofall, that semicolon is bugging the crap out of me. But I will resist my compulsions and leave it. Ihatethisfeeling.

My message would be that The Pioneer Woman is a fakery. I've seen the Drummonds' assets and it's absolutely unbelievable. I resent that she puts forth this image of "just lil ole me here in my house having to take care of my whole family all by my lonesome" when she's actually a dad-gum millionaire, with help in all areas of her home, and whose recipes are never original--word-for-word taken from other lesser known cookbooks. And then if people still love her...at least they know the truth.


What foods will you not try?

You thought I was picky before? I'll SHOW you picky!!! Also--please don't take this as a Challenge List. I won't hesitate to direct the inevitable vomit at your shoes.

Eggplant. Prunes. Mussels. Raw oysters (as well as cooked). Pickled pigs' feet. Sardines. Scallops. A portabello mushroom sandwich. Any type of bug that people sometimes eat. Escargot. Fruit jelly/jam/preserves (besides grape, and even then, I use it sparingly). Cherry pie or cobbler (or any other kind of fruit pie/cobbler except apple and gooseberry). Eggs with a bunch of vegetable crap in them. Sushi. Steak tartare. Supreme pizza, or veggie pizza. Turkey (from a box) or tuna (any) tetrazzini. Ravioli with veggies or meat in. Anything savory cooked with ginger. Seaweed. Caviar. Pumpkin in a non-sweet environment. KFC's Double Down sandwich. Those Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans that taste like Dirt and Grass and Earwax and Vomit and Spaghetti and Soap and Booger and Earthworm and Sardine. Marshmallow fondant (or anything marshmallow I haven't had the misfortune to try yet).


Which brands of toothbrush and toothpaste do you use?

Okay, this is hard for me to answer. Well, toothbrush is easy. Sonicare...so fab.

Toothpaste...my favorite is and has ALWAYS BEEN Colgate paste (the white kind) with something extra like Cavity Prevention or Tartar Control or Whitening or whatever. But I get sucked in by New and Different things all the time. Usually for toothpastes I get a small travel-size of the New and Different, inevitably find that it's not as good as my Old Standard, but use it up because I don't want to throw out something that I can handle for a while until I get back to my regular.

BUT.

I placed an order on Soap.com, and made the regrettable mistake of ordering *three* kinds of New and Different Colgate, ALL FULL SIZE.
None of which I really like.
And, to top it off, one of the New and Differents, though having a different name, is actually the same kind as another one of the New and Differents...so I have to choke down another whole full size of something I didn't like in the first place. I've opened all of them, so I can't donate them.

I know, I know. I should just dump them and learn a lesson from this. But somehow I can't.

Anyone know of any uses for Cinnamon Mint or Cinnamon Spice Colgate? I don't have any silver that needs de-tarnishing, and I'm happy with my picture-placement around the house. No holes need to be caulked.

(in searching for a review of this product, I came across Orson Scott Card's blog. He's a funny mofo! He has similar hang-ups as I do, too. Get ready for a new follower, Mr. Card!)


What are your favorite ice cream flavors?

Already answered this. A review: Tax Crunch, Mint Chocolate Chip, Mint Cookie, and Vermonty Python. (Rest in Peace, Retired Ben & Jerry's Best Flavor Ever.)

May 26 - June 5

Only 2940 burned yesterday. Gack. I did work on crafty stuff throughout the evening, which needs to get done, but I didn't leave enough time for an hour-long workout. We did watch The Playboy Club, though; not as delicious or soapy as I'd wanted, but it was entertaining enough. (Also, The Office is absolutely not the same without Michael. I kept thinking something was missing.)

What are the boldest things you have ever done?

(OK, first, I am absolutely NOT bold.)

Had my hair dyed red. Online-to-IRL dated. Wore fishnets. Sung a solo on the Maplewood stage. Told the unpleasant truth. Confronted the people.

What have been the highlights of your week?

Since last Tuesday...

1. Trip to StL...Moonrise suite...cupcakes...PJ20 documentary...having one of the best Bloody Marys of my life on the rooftop terrace after the show, overlooking the Loop...the BEST BED ever...4 oz. filet and boursin/basil/tomato ravioli room service...lovely crisp fall weather the day after...playing with Lucy Lu, Emz, and and Noah in Fitz's...Trader Joe's/Archiver's on the way home. Felt like a weekend in the middle of the week!

2. "Just Breathe" and "Better Man"--my two favorite Pearl Jams at the moment. I love being really excited about new music. It doesn't happen often for me.

3. Windows and doors open all the time in the apartment.

4. Trees are starting to change to red. Fields to golden brown.

5. I never thought I'd say this, but Jon Bones Jones beating Quentin Rampage Jackson, UFC, Saturday night. He's a beautiful fighter--all legs and arms. And bonus: not too much blood!

6. FINALLY got myself to the storage unit to unload 7-8 boxes that had been in our entryway area. So good to get rid of them!

7. Settling into a craft project and watching TV with Neil last night. It's looking good, I think!

8. The work session I just had with my boss. I'm excited about some things!

OK, that's all for now.


What allergies do you have?

Oh, probably some outdoor stuff, when the seasons change. Maybe ragweed or something. Also cats. If I have a cold already, I cannot *breathe* around cats. If I'm around them too much under normal circumstances, I have to constantly wash my hands because I pet them on account of the softness. I also have a slight dermatographic reaction when lightly scratched (like by a cat or a sliver of wood), if that counts.


What radio stations do you listen to?

Very few these days. Y107 or 92.7 when I'm in a Poppy mood...93.1 for random stuff like Milli Vanilli and Poison...and I try to find a jazz station when driving from StL. But mostly it's audiobooks and music cds in the car.


What are the first things you notice about people?

Their face and body. Pretty/cute? Slim/average/heavy? I don't judge, I just notice. Light eyes. Lustrous or otherwise interesting hair. Do they dress funny or fabulously? Smiles that catch you off-guard with their dazzle. Wedding ring? Cross around their neck? Visible tattoos?


What are your favorite magazines to read?

Scrapbooking ones as long as they aren't lame. EWeekly. GAMES! Organize [defunct]. Budget Living [defunct]. Rosie's [defunct]. Sassy and Jane (defunct, defunct). Us/OK (yes, I know. Judge away). Those having to do with household tips, as long as they aren't too kid-centered.


What are some difficulties and hardships you've overcome or are in the process of overcoming?

Depression, anxiety, SOCIAL anxiety, obesity, *chosen* isolation (if that makes sense...), collecting bordering on obsessions, trusting, holding grudges for too long, staying on task, becoming too attached, laziness.


What are arguments your parents had that you would try and avoid with your partner?

Interesting question, but pretty irrelevant. I've talked to Dad a lot about this. He and Mom didn't really fight. It's not that their relationship was perfect, but any disagreements I heard them have were small and playful. And I think any grievances they had needed to discuss, they did so privately or in therapy.


What are subjects you wish you knew more about?

There are plenty of things I'm ignorant of--history, current events, calculus, physics, to name a few--but I'm happily ignorant. I really don't want to stress about current events. That may make me shallow, but I know I'd obsess over it. I'd be one of those people who watched CNN or Fox News (oh god not fox news, never mind) all day. I have enough stresses; I'd like to use my free time to work on being happy.

So what DO I want to know more about? Other teams in baseball. The entertainment business (the juicy stuff). Gadgetry/technology. Cataloging procedures. Writing a novel. Therapeutic methods. Staying healthy.




(P.S. Google's birthday photo today is super lame. Like a sad party in a room dimly lit with fluorescents. We know they have better stuff up in there! C'mon, man.)

May 21-May 25

I super need to burn some cals here, folx. (I'm trying a new abbreviation of "folks." Did it work?) All this week, my goal is to burn 3400 a day. Wish me luck!

What do you think are the most important values in a relationship or friendship?

Loyalty. Kindness. The ability to laugh together. Being present. Presents. (just kidding! kinda. GIMME PREZZIES!) Not taking one another for granted. Belief in one another. Support.

What are the last things you purchased?

Cabochons.

What are your favorite crayon colors?

EEEE! I love this one too!
I won't re-evaluate for Current Times, because I'd probably choose stuff like Olive Green and Burnt Sienna, which my 9-year-old self would be TOTALLY APPALLED BY. So.

Midnight Blue. Green-Blue (or Blue-Green. Whichever was the bluer one.) Sky Blue. Magenta. Red.

Oh, man...I'm forgetting other names now. I'm going to check and see if I missed any. Wikipedia to the rescuuuuuuuuue!

Whoa, they have Almond now?? Neat!
Um...Beaver? Hmm...
I was totally right about the Green-Blue. I always thought it was weird that THAT was the bluer one.
Oh CRAP, there's a Cerulean now? Blast! I always KNEW I would love that color after Jane Banks described it in a Mary Poppins book. Another blue, too.
Ha! "Chestnut" was renamed from "Indian Red." Way to be PC, Crayola!
Ugh, there are so many of these that I just hated. Cornflower Blue SUCKED.
Manatee?! how cute!
Ooh, Outer Space looks neat.
Plum--I liked it, but only when Red-Violet was not available. Not Violet-Red. Red-Violet was darker/purplier. I would have loved Royal Purple too, I think, if it was invented before 1990.
That Silver was so much more metallic, and satisfying, than the other metallic ones.

Wow, WTH? I have never identified myself as liking blue. Not once. At least, I really don't like plain blue. Denim blue. Watery, shallow blue. Ick.

That's it, I need Crayolas for scrapbooking. Definitely.


What are the foods you hate?

FISH FISH FISH FISH fish. And all other sea creatures.
Raisins, as you [should] know.
Cooked fruit. Cooked fruit in desserts, except apple stuff.
Cooked carrots.
Yams/sweet potatoes.
Zucchini in anything other than bread. All squashes. I can take pumpkin when it's pureed and baked into something sweet like a pie or bread.
Buckwheat anything.
Celery.
Twizzlers.
Black licorice. WHY YOU SO CUTE, ALL-SORTS?
Plain pork chops.
Lemon poppyseed bread/muffins. Leave out the lemon, people! Not that hard.
Mushrooms, in every way that exists.
Green peppers. Also red.
Currant-flavored candy. Blue raspberry flavored things.
Dr. Pepper. Mountain Dew. Root Beer.
Beef Jerky (the dry kind. Not Slim Jims!)
Rusty Nails. (the drink. Although I imagine actual rusty nails aren't too delicious either.)
Chardonnay.
Mixed juices, except Cran-Apple or Cran-Grape.
Tea--iced, sweet, hot, whatever. It's dirty water, y'all. Dirty, dirty water.
Yorkshire pudding. Baaaaad experience.
Mushy apples. Red Delicious and Jonathan also are never good.
Skim milk.
Artichoke hearts (but I'm nuts for the leaves. Go figger.)
Miracle Whip.
Packaged cheap sliced lunchmeat, like bologna or turkey or cotto salami. As opposed to fresher, thinly sliced meat. But still no cotto salami or bologna pleez.
White chocolate.
Dry clementines. Always a disappointing end to citrus season.
Sweet salad dressing.
Ranch dressing, with a few exceptions. Just not on a salad.
Ketchup on or in anything but hamburgers and fries.
Meatloaf.
Meatballs.
Bread pudding.
Dressing/stuffing.
The onions and crouton in French Onion Soup.
Vegetable soup.


Awright, I'll stop. I am afraid of how long I could go with this...

May 11- May 20

What's the longest you've gone without sleep? Why?

My trip to London in 2007. I think I was up for 24 hours or more because of the plane trip (and I couldn't sleep on the plane because I had a middle seat), and it was hard to get to sleep in the hotel room because I was so excited to be there. I was hungry, too, and ordered Beans on Toast for the first time ever, from room service. It was weird.


What makes up your favorite outfit?

Lately I've been liking my black pants, black tee, and army jacket for leaving the house. Inside the house it's stretchy gaucho pants and a fitted t-shirt. Oh, and no socks no socks NO SOCKS EVER.


Who are/were your favorite teachers?

Elementary: Mrs. Geel
Junior high: Linda Boyer
High school: Greg Butz and Doc Marquardt
Grinnell: Sandy Moffett
NYU: Eh
Law school: Greg Scott. I was dumbstruck when I read of his death a few weeks ago.
Library school: Denise Adkins


What are the moments in which you were the most proud?

Seeing my family and friends succeed. Like watching Steve kill it in Hamlet, or knock Carlton Banks down a few notches on Catch 21. Hearing of babies born to mothers who have been waiting so long for them.


Who in your family are you the most like?

Whoa my gosh. Dad. No, Joe. No...Steve. No, mom. ALL OF THEM!


What was your favorite game as a kid?

I looooved games, so picking a favorite is hard. And it depends on the era. I believe Candyland was my favorite as a tyke. I liked Life, then card games like Casino and Canasta and Egyptian Rat Screw as I got older. Then Trivial Pursuit whenever I could get Dad to play it with me, and then Mom got me SET. Oh, Set. Set Set Set.


What things did you crave when you were young and denied?

LOVE this question. Straight whipped cream in a bowl! Frosting ONLY! CANDY CANDY CANDY ALL OF THE CANDY!


What are your favorite things to do in the snow?

Ski, sled, fall in it. Tackle someone I like romantically and make out in a pile of snow. :)
Look out the window, cozy and warm one evening, to see it falling--and not have to be anywhere anytime soon.
(It's weird that this question is on May 19.)


What are your parents like?

Dad: Intelligent, sometimes intimidatingly so. Fairly stubborn although you wouldn't know it to talk to him. Patient as all get-out. Funny as hell. Athletic and active as a monkey. There for us as a friend and father, every time we need him. Loves us kids with all his heart. :)

Mama: Spiritual. Extremely friendly and loving to SO many people. Independent and sassy to the point of being inappropriately hilarious. Deep in her love for us kids, and has special relationships with each one of us. Passionate in her work as a therapist. Moon mama.

What the hell.

I've decided to make this public again, and am debating disabling comments. I put too much validation into comments, and I want this blog to be my own journal, not someplace where I welcome judgment based on what I write. On the other hand, it's gotten to the point where it hurts my feelings when I *don't* get comments from friends, and I hate that I become upset over that. The last thing I want to do is to make anyone feel obligated to comment! It's a total struggle.

[Juli--thank you for your recent feedback, though. I don't have another venue to interact with you via social media, and it warms the cockles of my heart to know you're reading.]

I've also gotten negative feedback from friends, and while part of me thinks I do NOT need that fuckery and this is my journal, to do with what I wish, I DO welcome discussion, and will respond to all comments from now on. But be warned that by reading this, you might read something you don't like. Even if that 'something' is me going on for paragraphs about how much I love driveways.


It's also been a morning that has turned pissy, after a glorious mid-week trip to St Louis and a morning commute listening to Eddie Vedder. I had energy to burn, baby! But then...my boss got mad at me, and I'm letting it consume my thoughts. Ick. I was so uncomfortable that I actually went to her--something I would never have done before--and asked her about that anger. It was actually a really good talk, because her emotions were stemming from something else that had pissed her off.

But I'm still resentful, as my dysfunctional self is wont to do.

It's time for a list or seven.

If you had to choose, would you rather be rich or famous? Why?

Rich. I'm too self-conscious to be famous. I'm sure there are problems with being rich, but it sure would be nice to get gastric bypass or hire Curtis Stone. Yummmm.


What places do you visit the most?

Lots of 'places' questions in this thing.
Dad's house, St Louis, Chicago, Ohio (though not much in recent years)--and two places I wish I could go to more, LA and Florida.


What are your top 5 dream jobs?

1. Theatre librarian
2. Copy-editor at a YA/sassy chicklit imprint in NYC
3. NYPL cataloger
4. Part-time at Archiver's
5. Disney Christmas warehouse stock-boy

Runner-up: whoever makes sure the Cardinals' baseball pants fit them correctly.


What were your favorite things to do as a child?

Read, read, read. I'd read anything. I even tried some of Dad's classic stuff when I ran out of my own, but there's a reason Hemingway isn't marketed to eight-year-old girls.

Jump on neighbors' coveted trampolines. Jennifer and Andi had them, and it wasn't til junior year that Dad got ours.

Sneak in as much TV as possible. Television was extremely restricted, to my tween/adolescent mind, and none was allowed after 7:00 on weeknights, with the exception of Cosby Show, which we all watched together. I missed EVERY OTHER sitcom my friends would rave about. I was dying to see Tony Micelli and Judge Harry Stone and Cliff Claven and Mike Seaver and, most of all, Alex P. Keaton. OH BOY OH BOY did I have a mighty crush on Michael J. Fox. I did not understand how someone could even BE that attractive.

Put together puzzles with my parents as Simon & Garfunkel, or Peter, Paul, and Mary, played softly from the turntable.


What magazines would you like to be on the cover of?

Erm...not any, really. Maybe Library Journal for being the Best and Most Quirky Cataloger ever?


What are your favorite sports teams?

Cards, first and always first. Always happy to hear when Grinnell is doing well. Despite my lack of school spirit, I'll go with Mizzou Tigers next (men's basketball and football). Then Packers, and for eye candy purposes only, NYGiants and Bears. And Panthers, now. I might be the only Cards fan who likes the Cubbies a decent amount. I like that SF Giants crazy pitcher guy. And whatever team Eckstein is on. Even though I think he is done playing.


What people have taught you the most about life?

Mama, most of all. Dad. Steve. Joe. Lily. Neil, Linz, Em, Shannon, Sarah, Amanda, Annie, Brandy, Abs. Dr. Wheeler. So many more.


What are your worst dating experiences?

OOOH GOOD ONE!!! I wish I had better stories though. I'll do the first one that comes to mind, for now.

NYC, summer 2001. Met Thomas online, and he asked me out for drinks. I put on my killer red/black dress that makes me look like a different person practically, and trekked up some kind of Upper West or East Side, armed with my roommate Katie's cell phone for protection. She insisted. (Love that girl!) Thomas was attractive enough--very generic. Tall, dark hair, tanned, whatever. Nothing that blew me away, but better than average.
As *soon* as I sat down with him, he started talking about how he had a really prominent job and how he was in all these magazines. "How would you feel if I told you I was in the majority of the magazines you have studied this summer?" were actually words that came out of his arrogant face. I told him I wouldn't care.
When he paid the tab, he pulled out a GIGANTIC wad of bills and peeled off a few. I could tell he thought the wad was pretty neat. As we made moves to leave--and bear in mind, no romantic or sexual moves had been made by either of us yet-- he leaned over and said "You can't come back to my hotel room unless you go to the bathroom, take off your panties, and bring them back to me."

"Huh," I said. "Walk me to the subway?"


What are your favorite horror movies?

Um...zero.


What are the things that, at first glance, people would not know about you?

This is a really hard one. If my blog were private, I'd have many answers for this. :) A few of you reading know what they are, anyway, so maybe I don't have to answer at all. I guess I'll say I'm a little wilder than I look, and leave it at that.


And that, my friends...is THAT.

Suddenly Ugh.

The day has been slowly but steadily deteriorating...not on a major level, just little annoyances here and there. I am at least a smidgen annoyed at just about everyone I know, and it is an UGLY feeling. And a recent conversation just kind of finished it for me...made me want to throw up my hands in disgust and declare Friend Bankruptcy.


(Okay, not really.  But sometimes I think life would be easier with no one else to worry about other than family.)


I'm not getting sleep...AGAIN.  I got five hours on Saturday night, and about that much ever since.  That's definitely adding to the irritability too.  I'm not really eating lunch at work, leading to binge-y behavior at night, and even then, nothing sounds good--I just eat it.  Ugh ugh ugh.

I *have* been keeping to my semiformal "do at least one productive thing a night" resolution, though--dishes, chipboard-letter organization, cleaning. And, I'm happy to report that I'm finally super-enjoying Ramona and can't wait to get back to it.  I had to force myself to put "...and her Father" down last night so I could get those aforementioned five hours of sleep. (And yes, it bugs me that I've been using quotes for book titles.  I'd do italics, but it messes up the whole entry's formatting and I want to rip people's heads off then.  Someday I'll go back through and edit.  I think.)  If I weren't so tired at work today, and succumbed to a sub-desk nap at lunchtime, I would have probs finished that book right up.

A few lists for today, April 26-28:

What are your major goals in life?
I'll just address goals that I haven't achieved, since I have done a lot of things I set out to do, i.e. get married, finish grad school, find a career I love.
-Live in a location I absolutely love.  I thought at one point that it was Columbia, but it's not.
-I guess I'm supposed to put "Buy a house."  But while that would be nice on some levels, I'm not ready for the responsibility yet.  I don't want to have to fix a leaky roof or mow a lawn.  I like being taken care of by 24/7 maintenance!
-Be happy most of the time.

What are your biggest pet peeves?
I'll think of some new ones that may not be on this blog's sidebar. So, they're not my biggest.  I just have a lot of pet peeves.  IT'S CHARMING.
Pants that are too short. Ears that need q-tipping.  Weird laughs.  Stray scotch tape.  Those phone calls where you answer and say "Hello?" and a recording says "Hold please."  Having to pee when you're really really sleepy.

What are your favorite things to shop for?
Scrapbooking supplies, hands down.  Quirky jewelry.  Books.  Gadgets.  Christmas gifts.

Marathon Fail.

This weekend, I tried to do my Second Annual 48-Hour Reading Marathon (even though maybe the first one was two years ago?  I can't remember) with Beverly Cleary as the featured author.

I gathered/borrowed all the books in her oeuvre, excluding two she wrote about Beaver Cleaver (which by the way I would LOVE to read, but no one has anymore).  I set aside this past weekend--no plans, no obligations, just reading.  I figured I'd like the experience even more than the Judy Blume weekend.

But...I didn't.  I slacked.  I stalled.  I trudged.  I found excuse after excuse NOT to read.  I got my hair chopped off and my ears double-pierced.  I grocery-shopped.  I talked to Lily about bridesmaid bracelets.  I played my turns promptly on Words With Friends.  I read every interesting-looking thread on Two Peas.  I returned two items to Wal-Mart that had been in the backseat of my car all summer.  I went through Think Geek and Uncommon Goods catalogs online and pinned every single thing that looked interesting.  I cleared Google Reader several times.

It actually was a fairly productive weekend.

What was wrong with me, though?  I was avoiding Beverly-freaking-CLEARY??  I love these books!  Ramona is my GIRRRRRL!  I was excited to finally, finally read "Sister of the Bride"! 

The only thing I can figure is that I really wasn't in a Book Place this weekend.  Sometimes I get in moods where I just don't wanna read.  And I won't, for several weeks, or months.  I'll do a magazine here and there but not much else.  And I haven't read a book for a long time.  Many times, I am in a *total* Book Place.  I'll be listening to one and in the middle of three more, devouring page after page during lunch hours and breaks and evenings.  I love those times.  They make me feel erudite.

But...I really want to read these books.  I want to do it while I have them and while I'm still fresh in the series.  So I'm making it my mission to FINISH this project.  Not in 48 hours, of course, but in a week or so.  And I'll keep writing in my little pocket spiral-bound journal, and report here either from time to time, or when I'm done.

I did get through seven-almost-eight books.  I read the Ramona series from "Henry Huggins" to "Ramona the Brave," and am one chapter away from finishing that one.  
So that's something.

Life Listed, April 18 - April 25

I fear I've been falling into old Negative Nelly habits too often these days.  That odd new feature on Facebook is what confirmed my vague suspicions...the sidebar that tells you what you wrote as your status on this day in previous years.  And mine were almost always funny/happy, or goofy/happy, or muse-y/happy.  They didn't scream "I'm bitching about something!"--and I wonder if I'm becoming the kind of person that whines all the time.  And there's nothing more tiresome than a person who whines all the time...am I right?  No matter what the subject is...it always sucks.  Because what are people supposed to say to me?  "I'm sorry," "That sucks"---different iterations, over and over and over?  It can also be construed as attention-getting, and while I do like some attention, I don't want to get it because I'm complaining or through sympathy.

So, while I'll never be Rainbows and Light and Ponies Leaping Through Sun-Dappled Meadows...I DO want to be more upbeat.  Life is going well right now, and there's no reason for me not to be.  I just refuse to fake it. :)

Speaking of faking it...


What parties have you been to in the last year?

Ugh, parties!  They make me nervous.  They make my blood pressure rise.  I will do ANYTHING to get out of a party, with a few exceptions.  A few close-knit friends getting together to scrapbook?  Hell yes.  A family birthday with the Parshalls and select other family friends in attendance?  Bring it on.   In the case of this summer--a bachelorette party with the bridesmaids, a crazy cool hotel room, and multiple bottles of wine?  Couldn't get enough!  And if board games are involved, I am absolutely SO THERE.  But...I can't take it if I don't know everyone at a party.  Or am just acquaintances with them, or it's work sponsored.  I just can't relax.  I wish it were socially acceptable to pull a Rory Gilmore--find a comfy, high-backed chair to hide in and bust out some Dorothy Parker to read in relative peace.  Ironically, I LOVE being away from parties...enjoying the noise and bursts of laughter while removed slightly from the action.  When I was little, my parents would have dinner parties and let me stay up late.  My favorite thing was going into the living room, one room away from the dining room, lay on the couch in my slippery party dress (ALWAYS satiny tulle, always ruffles), and be lulled to sleep by the muffled gaiety.

Oh yeah, the question at hand.  Hm.  Amy and Mark's wedding.  Sarah's bachelorette, and Sarah's bridal shower.  Sarah's wedding.  That might be it.

What character traits do you use most often to judge people?

Intelligence and sense of humor.

What schools have you attended?

Children's House, 3-5
Ridgeway Elementary, 5-12
West Junior, 12-15
Hickman High, 15-18
Grinnell College, 18-22
NYU, 23-24
MU Law school, 26
SISLT (Library school @ MU), 27-30
UNC-Chapel Hill/Oxford University, 29

I have one last educational wish, and time will tell if it will come to fruition.

Which family members do you wish you weren't related to?

HA!  Wowie wow wow.  Well, I'll say right now--I love my immediate family to freaking pieces.  I'm glad I'm related to them because they are automatically forced to love me and I am so damned lucky they do.

But...even though there are certainly extended family members who aren't always pleasant, I don't wish they weren't in my life.  I don't have to see them very often, and when I do, it's been long enough that we pretty much just catch up and then our time together is over.  My mom's family has some pretty horrific stories to tell--not that they would admit to them--but I've always been welcomed with open arms.

Who are your heros today?

HEROES, DAMMIT!!! HEROES!!!!!!

Call yourself a published work.  Tsk tsk tsk.

I don't really have heroes.  I don't think it's a very healthy method of consideration.  I admire a lot of people, for dang sure...all you selfless mamas with your hands full day after day after day, teachers, nurses, artists, Zack Galifianakis...but I don't put anyone on a pedestal.

Which of your body parts do you hate the most?

Which?  So, only one then..?
My lower stomach.  All the fat goes there and it's so obvious.  I've always had it--even at 135 lbs.  I wish I could just cut it off.  (Okay, ew.  I won't do that.  But if there was a pain-free, cost-free, side-effect-free way to do it...I'd be sorely tempted.)


Where do you like to travel and where have you been?

I feel like I've answered this about three times so far.  So I'll make up a new one:

What was your worst vacation?

(so much for trying to be more upbeat.)

Though it wasn't 100% horrible, our trip to Reno in May of 2010 was quite memorable in very unpleasant ways.  The first half-day of the train was good--fun and adventurous even, and we met an adorable old couple at dinner who showed us their pimped-out room (as in, it had a bathroom and was twice the size of our sleeper).  Sleeping in our converted bunk beds was fun, and watching the countryside zip by through our huge window was neat.  But the communal bathrooms were little more than airplane-sized, and our coffin-esque room got old REAL QUICK.  I had just started taking Paxil the week before, and the side effects were kicking in--cold sweats, lack of interest in food, the shakes, and a general foggy-brained feeling.  And there just wasn't anything to *do*.  I couldn't read by the window or I'd get sick, and it just became a waiting game in between meals.  Eventually we didn't even fold up the top bunk at all since napping was a good time-killer.

The next several days in Reno were okay.  Grandma's house and landscape are absolutely gorgeous, and I would *love* to live in a place like hers one day, with dry landscaping and a mountain right outside her backdoor with little lizards scurrying around.  The air was deliciously dry and mild, and we spent a lot of time sitting in the backyard enjoying the surroundings.  I gambled for the first time in my life, and understood why I shouldn't let myself do that again--money lost all meaning to me.  Charlie (Grandma's husband) was surly as usual, bitching about my taking naps (the Paxil's side effects were super bad there) and lord knows what else.  But Grandma made cinnamon rolls and took us out to eat every night, and when it came time to leave, I'd had enough chicken fried steak to last several thousand years.  

The train ride back was a *nightmare*.  I don't even remember the first part of it, but the final twelve hours were unbearable.  Shortly after we went to bed that last night, our A/C (which was controllable inside each little room) went full blast and would NOT stop.  It was totally hot outside, but utterly freezing in our sleeper.  We couldn't find any crew to help us, and even hours later when Neil eventually talked to someone, they couldn't do anything about it.  We had only packed summer clothes, and the beds were equipped with a sheet and super-thin blanket.  We wrapped ourselves as best we could, but there was nothing we could do but wait it out.  We were bleary from lack of sleep, pissed off at not getting help, and shivering uncontrollably, stuck in this teeny rectangle of a room until the train rolled into Ottumwa, IA--only to have to drive three hours to get home.

Tickets for the train trip were about $1700.  Never, ever, ever, EVER again.

Life Listed, Apr.1 - April 17

So first of all, Blogger's apparently automatically doing this irritating-as-hell in-text advertising for everyone's blogger blogs, and it drives me nuts.  Enough so that I kind of want to change blog hosts.  But we'll see.  I've done some research and no one else is bitching about it--even though I DID find an article about blog advertising saying "before you agree to in-text advertising, please be aware that it's the most annoying kind."  YEAH, GOT IT.  Apparently I have no control over it though. 


What are your favorite board games?

(For April 1st?  Really?  No "What's the best prank you've ever pulled?"  "How gullible are you?"  Get with it, Life Listed.)

Trivial Pursuit... Celebrity, even though no board is required... Telestrations... Encore... Password... Sorry... If Magic counts, then Magic... Cranium

Where are the best places you have traveled?

NYC!  Los Angeles.  Seattle.  Chicago.  Des Moines.  Bath, UK.  Door County, WI.  Orlando.   Madison, WI.  London, sometimes.  A cemetery in Paris.

Where are unusual places you have taken a nap?

I'm not an easy napper, so not many.  At work I've managed to accustom myself to sleeping on a yoga mat on the floor, though...on my stomach with a couple small pillows and a pashmina for cover.

What causes do you strongly believe in?

I haven't really gotten into any.  I haven't made the time or money for it. 

Which type of person do you hate the most?

Oooh.  Attention whores.  Moochers.  Passive-aggressives.  Hypochondriacs.  Needies.  Meanies.  Fake-happies.  The constant critic.  Fair-weather friends.

What vehicles have you owned?

1988 gray Dodge Caravan; 1995 white Toyota Tercel; 2007 cactus pearl Toyota Corolla.  I'm done with Toyotas after this one.

What are your favorite beers?

No beers ever.  They taste like vomit.  Woodpecker Cider's awesome, though.  And Woodchuck.

What talent do you wish you'd been born with?

Musical.  Artistic/crafty.  Creativity.

Which web sites do you visit daily?

Erm...these are starting to sound similar...
Facebook, Gmail, Google Reader, Twitter

What are the worst pick-up lines you've ever heard?

A note taped to my door asking if I want to be friends with benefits with a box for Yes or No.  A pencil was also included.  

Which musical instruments do you (wish you could) play?

Piano, but mostly drums.

What are your favorite Disney movies?

Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and Little Mermaid.  I don't like when they get sad, like Dumbo or Bambi or Fox and the Hound.  And I don't like much action.

Who have been your favorite and worst roommates?

Favorites: Neil, Whitney Hicks at NYU, Zanne and Karen at Door County
Worst: Ex-boyf, Niki at Grinnell, Erica Fera at Arrow Rock 

What are things that no one knows about you?

Yikes!  Okay, well, there's no way I'm putting my deepest darkest here.  I'll just treat it like normal trivia!

Man, this is tough.  I'm pretty much an open book for things like this.  If I haven't told people already, I've probably written it here somewhere.

I take all the soaps and freebies from hotel rooms so I can donate them to local homeless shelters, but I never get around to it so they just accumulate.

I get extremely jealous over little things (for multiple friends/family), but I try really hard to hide it.

I will never do karaoke, but I know I would have a freaking blast with it.  I have fantasies about it.  Generally in the car.


Let's call it a day.  Whew. 

Life Listed, Mar.14 - Mar.31

What junk food did you eat this weekend?

Cupcakes. :) A small sea-salt brownie. Soda and fast food (hey, I was traveling). Dewey's pizza.

What holidays do you enjoy most and how do you celebrate them?

I love holidays, so I'm just going to list them in order.

January 1st--Mama and Lily's birthday. We gather at the homestead for gifts and a toast, Dad makes dinner and cake, and it's a quiet family night.
Valentine's Day--I like to make a big deal out of it, even if I'm not romantically attached. Everyone deserves love!!
St. Patrick's Day--Green beer bread!
Easter--some kind of fancy meat at Family Dinner, and Dad hides plastic eggs with money inside of them all over.
Mother's Day--Family dinner and a toast for Mama!
My birthday--Family dinner, Texas sheet cake, and Art in the Park gifts ALL FOR ME!! This year, I got a massage, which is a tradition I shall most definitely continue.
Father's Day--Family dinner, gifties--generally a joint affair with Jobie's birthday.
Independence Day--Fireworks from the big tents...many illegal, but we try not to make it too loud. Lily hates them and Mom was always scared of them. Dinner outside, then fight the traffic to watch the fireworks from the top of the parking garage.
Labor Day--Family dinner, this year with Lori Smarty!
Halloween--I'm very careful about channel-surfing. I love all the trappings of Halloween, but I generally don't participate. I think the last time I dressed up was when I was in law school. I donned my TGIFriday's uniform.
Thanksgiving--Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, then Lil and Dad cook all day and we have an early-ish dinner followed by games. Generally we're joined by the Parshalls.
Christmas Eve--best day ever!! Dinner out, ride around looking at Christmas lights, spiked egg nog and last-minute gift wrapping by the tree with Christmas Story playing all evening.
Christmas--Cinnamon rolls, presents...naptime for all but Lil and Dad, the cookers...then a big dinner with the Parshalls and games. A LOT like Thanksgiving.
New Year's Eve--not much, usually. If Neil stays up we'll kiss, of course, and some years I work on resolutions. Sometimes it's just an evening of reflection.

What are your favorite comic book characters?

Charlie Brown.

Do you have recurring dreams? What happens in them?

I don't like when people talk about their dreams, but I'll do this one anyway.

I'm lost on Grinnell's campus and can't find the dorm room I want to get to.
I don't have my locker combination and I HAVE to get in my locker.
The semester is almost over and I kept skipping this class I should have gone to. I even realize in the dream that I've graduated, but for some reason I kept going with school.
I'm completely in the weeds waiting tables at Friday's.
My significant other is cheating on me and being cruel about it.

What lies have you told this week?

Wow! Crazy one. Hmmmmm. Honestly I can't remember...I've been in a chipper mood for awhile now, so even if someone asks me how I am and I say "Good!" I definitely mean it. OH! I know. I just called my chiropractor's office and told them I wouldn't be coming in this week because I was picking Neil up from work even though he told me yesterday he'd be walking home while the weather is nice. Really I just didn't want to go see the chiropractor because I have my doubts that he really helps with my back pain, and I just want to go straight home after work.

What languages would you like to learn?

Spanish, I guess. But I don't really care if I do or not. Maybe see if I can pick up French again? There was a time when I did love it.

What were your first words as a baby?

HORSE.

[i was a pretty awesome baby.]

What places would you travel to if you could go back in time?

I'd meet Laura Ingalls, both while she was a kid on the prairie and after she became a successful [co-]author. So....DeSmet and Rocky Ridge Farm in Missouri. I'd like to see how the 50s were in Columbia. Or NYC. Or New Madrid.

Who are your favorite musical groups and/or artists?

Abba. Adam Lambert. NKOTB. George Michael. Poison. Paul Simon, and sometimes Garfunkel. Britney's fascinating and danceable, and if I didn't put her in here, I'd have to scroll up to the "what lies have you told this week?" and say I didn't list her. Peter, Paul, and Mary. More, I know, but that's what I can think of for now.

Who are your best friends?

Lindsay, Emily, Sarah M., Sarah I., Lily, Joe, Steve, Dad, Shannon....and Neil. :)

What are your favorite movie quotes?

First of all--Jackie and I used to send each other quote notes several times a week. So I'm embarrassingly well-versed in this area. I don't go quoting stuff like a loser, though.
Anything from Young Guns or Young Guns II--what junior high memories!! Also anything from When Harry Met Sally. Princess Bride, of course...I think that movie was made for the quotes. Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire (we had a THANG for Emilio).

Which are your favorite decades of music?

90s, then 80s.

What sports did you or do you play?

Soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, skiing, kneeboarding. FOUR SQUARE, yo.

What are your 'most recent' favorite songs?

Taio Cruz, Dynamite and Break Your Heart...Jason DeRulo, Ridin Solo...SOME Katy Perry, and SOME Gaga if she isn't trying too hard...The Golden Age...Black Keys, Tighten Up and Next Girl

If your house was on fire and you could grab only 5 things before leaving, what would they be?

My husband!...my tablet...my phone...my car keys...am I wearing my glasses? Those, if I'm not.

My sentimental self would choose Neil, my big box of photos, my Genevieve's Jolly Postman book, Mama's pastels, and our wedding sand art.

One more for today!

What are your favorite cartoons?

Monchichi/Snorks/Gummi Bears, though it's been 30 years since I've seen them and they might be interminable now. Same with Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Scooby Doo, and He-Man. But I can ALWAYS watch a Peanuts holiday special, particularly the older ones. I can always watch a Garfield holiday special. Sleeping Beauty and Mickey Mouse. Anything Christmassy and cartoony, as long as it's not dark. Little Mermaid.

Life Listed, Mar.3- Mar.13

I'm welcoming two new blog readers today: greetings, Lori and Bill! I don't think people really do that with their blogs, but when you have a solid four-person readership, it's important to let everyone know they're appreciated.

So I've finished with the first two months of the neglected Life Listed calendar. I'm powering on today until I get tired of it or keep coming upon really dumb questions.

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Pretty picky about this. Pepperoni is #1. Sausage, depending on the place (Shakespeare's is divine). Hamburger, especially on Dad's. Lately I've been liking salami. Roma tomato slices. Different kinds of cheese as long as it's fairly mild. But mostly, that's it. I won't even go for onions. Peppers, no way...ham/canadian bacon is no good. Mushrooms--absolutely NOT. If I could find the person who first put pineapple on a pizza I would punch them in the nose. And I'm fairly confident in saying that anything else you may put on a pizza, I probably won't go for it.

What are your 5 favorite web sites?

Facebook, MSN games, Television Without Pity, Pandora, Google Reader

What are you most afraid to lose?

My family.

What are your favorite video games?

Hidden Object games, Bubble Town, Gold Miner, Heroes of Might & Magic, Civ2

What are your biggest accomplishments?

Having a career in an area I'm well-educated in. Finishing the Sunday New York Times Crossword in one sitting.

What are the worst movies you have ever seen?

I don't watch a lot of movies, and if they're bad, I generally stop or leave. But I've been in situations where leaving would be awkward....

"Speed Zone," Columbia Mall 4 theatres. Leena promised she'd pay me back if the movie was bad since I told her it didn't sound appealing, but she never did. You owe me like $2.50, girl.
"Idiocracy." Oh my god so bad. Our friends told us it was the funniest movie ever and we were kind of roped into seeing it with them, and we were both miserable throughout. They were so enthusiastic--there was no way we could have said "Umm...this is kind of interminable. We're gonna go now."
"Cable Guy." I went by myself at the Mall 4. I was such a Jim Carrey nut, and loved Matthew Broderick, that I was sure it was going to be awesome. Not awesome. I don't know why I didn't leave.
"Royal Tenenbaums." I just didn't get the humor at all. I think Wes Anderson isn't a good fit with me.
"Bitter Moon," when Peter Coyote came to Grinnell to talk about it.
"Citizen Kane." I only remember that it was soooooo long.


What famous people have you met?

Okay, "meet" is kind of a stretch here. I collect famous-people touches, but I'll try to keep this to encounters.

I did meet Edward Albee during his presentation at Jesse (I stage-managed). I told him I'd seen the London premiere of his "Play About the Baby" and we chatted for a minute about that.
Also had an encounter with Dave Atell under the same circumstances. The opening comedian had broken a bottle on the stage, and the first swipe with a broom after he was done wasn't very effective. I said to Atell "I'll run right out there and finish" and he said in a pissed-off tone "Don't worry about it." Douche. Oh, except earlier me and a friend were sitting in the dark backstage and he passed us and nodded to us, and in the dark he looked so much like a regular guy that I just ignored him. So I was kind of a douche to him!
Branford Marsalis gave a performance there too, and I stage-managed as always. He was totally cute and had vertigo! No fooling. He left his peacoat on the chair near me when he went onstage, and his little entourage was sitting all around too, and when I brushed against his coat I almost said "ooooh" out loud. It was cashmere and the softest thing I had ever felt. Throughout the show I touched it was much as I could.
There are probably more Jesse stories, but I don't remember now.

My favorite celeb-touching story is when I went to see "Amadeus" in London, with Michael Sheen and David Suchet. I heard in the lobby there was some celeb in the audience, and people were all kinds of abuzz about it. Since it was just me, and they sell student tickets at low prices an hour before the show, I got in like the 7th row for 30 pounds or something ridiculous. I kept looking around at the boxes or front rows for someone famous--was it the Queen?? Who are people TALKING ABOUT?!!! But only regular people were there. I heard a group sit down right behind me, and I smelled cigarette smoke. I turned slightly, not thinking anything of it, and WHOA. Blue eyes blue eyes BLUEST EYES EVER. Black short hair, army jacket, ratty clothes otherwise. No makeup, but those eyes! An instant after being dazzled, my brain clicked into gear and I thought "Holy crap--I have better seats than Boy George!"
When intermission began, I figured he'd be leaving to enjoy another smoke. I leaned wayyyy back in my seat, and he had to brush past me. CELEBRITY FORCE-TOUCH FOR THE WIN!!!


Last one for today:

What are your most embarrassing moments?

Oh man, the ones I've repressed so I'll never have to think about them? Lord.

In 9th grade I managed to fall UP the stairs at WJHS. A boy who knew I had a crush on him silently helped me up. I could have died.
I again fell UP the stairs a year or so ago here at work. A couple of men were behind me and asked if I needed help--since my bag's contents had scattered as well--and I angrily told them no. Man, being embarrassed sucks.
The summer after junior year, my good friend Melanie and I got in a big fight. She was working at Mazzio's with this guy I told her I'd had a crush on, but who didn't know I existed. She told him I liked him, just to get back at me. Luckily, he'd just graduated so I never had to see him again...but if I ever did see him again, I would again want to die.


That's all I want to recall on this subject. And I'm doing one more so it will perk me up a bit since my cheeks are burning.

What are your favorite things about your hometown?

Oh, what a cute one!!

Dad's house; Art in the Park; spring and fall; theatre; knowing the lay of the land; that I don't have to take time off for holidays; nothing is too far away from anything else; that the whole town comes out for big events; Mama's bench; MKT trail; a few remaining cobblestone streets; Farmer's Market; the ARC; Hartsburg pumpkins; evenings on the Flat Branch patio; the amazing tiled benches across the street from Cool Stuff; Murry's jazz; David Spear's paintings in Sophia's; the plaster cast museum on campus; memories of an old Barn; Children's House; Ridgeway; to-go wine at Jesse; Shakespeare's (preferably room-temperature); Trops on a hot night when you don't need to stay classy; hearing the football cheers from our balcony...

Life Listed, Feb. 15-Mar 2

What would make a perfect date?

A mild summer night, theatre, a swingy dress, my man's hiney lookin' fine in nice pants, wine, driving in the dark, getting taken care of, treating ourselves, self-portraits, holding hands, laughing, fingernail polish, eyeliner, dessert, snuggles, hotel room, kisses against a car (I don't know, it's a thing for me), adventuring, not worrying about prices, enjoyable sighs, benches, a waterfront, smiles, learning new things, sharing food, naughty glances...I love dates. :)

What cool features would be in your dream house?

A scrap room for me with a Scrapbox and a (forgive the overuse of the term) man-cave for Neil; indoor swimming pool (Endless Pool FTW!); a large kitchen with an island you can comfortably gather/sit at; two fridges (with filtered water dispenser) and a deep freezer; a large garage; warmed bathroom floors; a hot tub; a deep whirlpool tub; red set of washer/dryers; plenty of accessible storage; a finished basement; a huge master bedroom you can fit a settee in; strong-water-flowing showers; indirect lighting like the Cloisters room at Nelson-Atkins; good ventilation so the windows can be opened when it's nice out; a wraparound porch with Adirondack seating and weatherproof pillows; a tiny toy Yorkie and a huge Great Dane who both adore us and each other; that one Crate and Barrel rug that's like $1100; a library with built-in custom shelving and a rolling ladder like in Music Man; warm colors in the kitchen (golds, reds, oranges, coppers); somewhere to display our Fiestaware; the ability to USE my Kitchenaid; a glass and red blender; a wall of glass; a guest bedroom; a step-down living room with cushy leather seating and two recliners; a Christmas room where I keep everything, and space to move it to when IT'S TIME; a Cali king sleigh bed (do those even exist?); a Shipping and Wrapping center; soft dining-table seating....OK, I could go on forever. But that's what Pinterest is for, am I right?

Who are the people you call most frequently?

I am SO not a phone-person. But Emily is, and Lily is, so I call them most. I talk to Neil a lot despite both of our aversions to the phone, and Dad too. Sometimes Gilbert and Sarah M., and OCCASIONALLY Lindsay if I'm going to die if we don't talk soon since it can't be discussed digitally or something. :) Grandma a few times a year...Joe and Steve, of course. Roger sometimes.

How late did you stay up each evening this week!

You guys, I am totally making a turnaround!! I take my Trazodone at 9 PM each night, which makes me ding-dong tired, and by 10 I can't keep my eyes open. I *can* push bedtime til 11, but mostly I'm asleep by then. it's been great!!

Where are your favorite places to get ice cream?

I'm sure I'll be condemned for saying this, but I'm not CRAZY for ice cream. I definitely like it, and if folks are getting it, I am totally in! But I don't know that I'd ever choose it over, say, a brownie. or a cupcake. Yeah, no, I never would. :) I enjoy it a lot if it has tons of crap in it--like gooey hot fudge (NOT Hershey's syrup. Gack!) or real swirls of peanut butter or Tax Crunch at Baskin Robbins--but am fairly uninterested in plain ice cream. Mint chocolate chip is about as 'vanilla' as I get. That said, though...my answers are Baskin-Robbins, Central Dairy, Shakes Frozen Custard, or a gelato stand. Pinkberry was okay, but I like Lollicup Tea's toppings better.

What are the best food dishes that you can make?

Rum cake, but you better like it strong. Crock-potted roast (apple cider vinegar is the key. Totally breaks it down). Totino's pizza with Tabasco all over it--does that count? I have the timing in the oven down to a freaking SCIENCE. Neil has said he likes when I marinate chicken and grill it, but I've developed an extreme aversion to raw chicken so I can't do that anymore. Bran muffins. I doctor up Hamburger Helper all the time with beans and tomatoes and onions and stuff...but...that may not count either. I've tried to make almost every dish of Dad's that I love at home (green salad, baked potato yogurt sauce, deviled eggs) but I can't do them right. It's not that I'm an awful cook...I just don't really like to do it. And if I had a large luxurious kitchen, I'm definitely willing to try!

What would you have on your own custom postage stamps?

Book covers. Vintage-like.

What are things you should never say in an interview?

This is weird for a list question. It's almost like a quiz question. Weren't these drilled into every single one of us in college/graduate school?

-"I didn't like my last job because..."

-"Do you guys get to wear jeans here?"

-"I don't work well with people."

-"My greatest fault? I'm totally lazy. like astronomical."

-"I'm wanting to work here just for a couple months until I get a real job."

-*chomp chomp* [gum]

What is your idea of an ideal mate?

Kind. Funny. Snuggly. Kissy. Dependable. Intelligent. Tall. Unskinny. Facial hair. Understanding. Patient. Nonjudgmental. Great smile. Attractive. Fun.

What do you love for breakfast?

Grandma's/Mom's warm cinnamon rolls JUST out of the oven. These are NOT big gigantic hard wastes of dough, people. They are skinny long rolls bursting with butter, sugar, and cinnamon in every millimeter. Served only at Thanksgiving and Christmas breakfasts. Often with maple sausage, cold milk, and Tropicana OJ. Heaven. Also: Dad's omelettes, any Dawson scrambling eggs, Applesauce bread from the Farmer's Market, Mom's Monkey Bread, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Blueberry Muffin Tops cereal, Egg McMuffin with sausage, McGriddles, biscuits and gravy, this one kind of breakfast burrito NO ONE sells anymore but it doesn't have anything nasty like onions or peppers in it, McD's steak/egg/cheese bagel, and a tall glass of icy cherry Pepsi--preferably without ice. Just ice-cold.

What songs would you like played at your wedding if it were today?

I always wanted to dance with Daddy to "Sunrise, Sunset." Or with my new husband to "The Way You Look Tonight." Blame "Father of the Bride" for that one. :) Oh, and some dance numbers, for sure...NKOTB, You're the One That I Want, Cha-Cha Slide, Cotton Eye Joe (just for the Electric Slide), Total Eclipse of the Heart....oh, now it's getting to be a PARTAY!!!!

What places would you like to live?

I'd love to try living IN Chicago...on Wacker in one of those awesome apartments the family walked by one Oscars Sunday. Near enough to NYC to take a day trip there one weekend a month. The Pacific NW...Portland or Seattle. San Diego or up near San Fran. The desert. Bath, UK. Madison, WI if it weren't so damn cold. The Villages, FL--in the winter. :)

What are the best compliments you've ever received?

When people say I'm funny, it is the best feeling ever. Ever! But it also chokes me up when they say I'm nice, because I'm really super hard working on that side of myself. Also when they say I smell good or look pretty. Or when I've lost weight, if they notice. If they like my jewelry or hair. We were at a restaurant and I finished ordering and the waitress said "You have good taste!" and I was like "Wowie! THANKS!" so I guess I like that too. Oh, and when people say I'm a good gift-giver! I love that because I put a lot of effort into gifts. (Shannon--you are hands down the best complimenter-friend on earth!! I feel so good about myself when you're in my life!!)

OK, last one for today....

What makes you smile?

Um, see above? Other than that....my Neil's smile. Sophie and Livi videos. Noah and Lucy's huge grins. Babies dressed up in funny costumes, or in formal stuff like bowties and shiny shoes. Little tiny dogs. GREAT BIG FLOPPY DOGS. My brother Steve's incredibly contagious laughter. Dates with my sister. Playing cards as a family. David Eckstein and Yadi. A performance that leaves me breathless. Anne of Green Gables. The opening to Golden Girls--the airplane against that sunset. My craft room. Presents (especially in the mail). Neil's pinky fingers and tummy.

Life Listed, Feb 3- Feb 14

Who are your next door neighbors?

Across the way--a German or Russian family. Totally sweet, always says "Hello" in accented tones. Has a new baby that doesn't seem to cry a lot.

Below: Horrible Nick and family. I'd rather not talk about them.

Everyone else: ??

How are you the same person you were as a child?

I like lying on my belly and reading or doing puzzly games. I'm scared of a LOT of things, and if I get scared by something, it stays in my mind as fresh as that first moment for years. I love driveways and mild gray days. Simon and Garfunkel comfort me. There's nothing like being in a car at night--preferably a longish trip with someone else at the wheel. I can always watch Mary Poppins.

What are some reasons you would get up early on a Saturday?

Farmer's Market. Garage sales. Start or continue a road trip. Scrapbook shopping! Seeing babies. Last Saturday, it was to watch the train wreck that was Pioneer Woman on the Food Network.

Where do you want to visit before you die?

I DO NOT LIKE the 'die' questions. So I'll just answer this as if it said "Where do you want to visit that you've never been before?"

Egypt and the Pyramids.... Hawaii... a scrappy cruise... Scrapfest... Charleston... San Diego... Portland... Italy... Greece... Cincinnati... Colonial Williamsburg... a zipline somewhere amazing... southern France... Petrified Forest... wine country... Toronto... Prince Edward Island...

What are false rumors someone has spread about you?

Wow, yikes. I guess...not many? That I know of? OOOH I do remember that once in 6th grade or so, we kept having feuds, and once it was Betsy and Megan against me, Sarah, and Alena. They put a love note in a boy's cubby, saying "I have a crush on you, love Betsy" or something, and then told the teachers that *we* put it in there. Just to get us in trouble. it was evil! But not really a rumor, I guess. Never mind.

What are things that gross you out?

So many things. Slugs, dead snakes, hanging/dangling snakes/worms, that one picture of a crocodile and snake that no one should NEVER EVER SEE, boogers, stray long hairs (especially black ones), Lamisil commercials (Who needs to see an infected toe OMG!!!!), blood and gore, dirty floors behind toilets, normal things like B.O./bad breath/vomit...

What are your favorite youtube videos?

Anything with Adam Lambert or Steve Dawson.

How did your parents spoil you as a child?

They definitely didn't spoil me in traditional ways. But they spent a LOT of time with me, which I'm learning to see isn't always the case with my peers, and my peers with kids. A lot of you are awesome, but there are some who just disgust me with their negligence.

What are your topmost ambitions in life?

To be happy, at home, at work, and in play. Eliminate debts and stress when possible.

And let's end with a weird one...especially weird for Valentine's Day--

What are your favorite salad toppings?

Cheese, oil/vinegar, salt and pepper, onion (or I could just say "SALAD THE WAY DAD MAKES IT!!")...occasionally Caesar or bleu cheese dressing. Always Olive Garden dressing. Sometimes broccoli and carrots, sometimes salami, olives. Never croutons, never bacon bits, NEVER cucumbers, NEVER EVER EVER fruit. Fruit does not belong on a salad, period.

Life Listed

I have this daily tear-off calendar. And I love it. But I am discouragingly far behind on its contents.

I was SO BLASTED EXCITED to get it, too. "I'm going to do this every day! It will change my life!" was my prediction. As it is with so many, many things. Remember in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" [book not film] when she's got to get that Hermes scarf because then she'll be known as "The Girl With The Hermes Scarf"? Ugh, so close to home.

[Do we *all* do that? Or, all of us who love to shop? DO we *all* justify everything we buy by promising we'll use it all the time and then do that maybe once or twice until it's relegated to the storage area specifically made for that genre of item? Jewelry, cute journals, self-help books, magazines, exercise equipment, artsy-crafty tools, DVDs, quirky decor...? I WILL GET TO IT! I *will.* Trust me.]

Anyway, it's a list you fill out every day. A different topic each day, cute little colors (navy-grey and lime green with white), tempting journalling lines to take as much space as you want. "I am going to fill the HELL out of this thing!" I told myself. of course I would! I LOVE LISTS!

But here it sits, on January 20.

I'm going to catch up on a few lists, on here. And then see if I can get up enough freaking motivation to do it regularly before 2012 comes. because if there's anything I hate, it's an out-of-date calendar that's still sitting out. Is anyone surprised?

WHAT IS ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE?

When I'm in bed: glasses, water bottle, eyedrops, hair-claw, Galaxy tablet, medications

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE BIRTHDAYS?

Mine, or someone else's? We'll go with mine, I guess.

I'm not too terribly social, so parties are always stressful. I remember one, though, that was fun fun fun...in our backyard on Stewart Road, 5th grade or so. May have been a joint birthday between me and Alena, but I can't remember. Kind of a DIY affair...people drew/signed all over the paper tablecloth with markers, and Mom got icing tubes from the bakery and everyone had a hand in decorating the cake. It looked insane when it was done. Most of the Ridgeway girls were there, all from my grade except Andrea and Sarah. Oh, and I think we called Mr. Colman over and drenched him with the hose. The year before, a true joint birthday with Alena, was good in a different way. We had a handful of girls over and camped out in the backyard.

WHAT ARE THE LAST 5 BOOKS YOU HAVE READ?

I haven't read many books recently--maybe not since "Room" or thereabouts. I guess I did download "Annie on my Mind" and read it last Friday. Good, not great. I found it for free, so no harm done.
I've listened to many, though. I've lived and breathed Sarah Dessen in the car all summer, and it's been lovely. I miss her world and am looking forward to enjoying the remaining audiobooks I haven't found yet. I've heard "This Lullaby," "Just Listen," "Lock and Key," and "Along for the Ride." Loved them all. She's like Meg Cabot but better.

WHAT SONGS WOULD YOU LIKE PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Let's not talk about death, please. Next!

WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?

Um...not much, I guess. I'm spiritual about a few things, but not superstitious. I used to HAVE to do things (count everything I read in five syllables and end at five; repeat an action on the opposite side of my body--for example, if I cracked my left-hand middle-finger knuckle I'd have to crack the right-hand one too; say "Go Hamlet!" every time I passed the MO Theatre), and I suppose those might be...but I'm learning to let go.

WHAT TV SHOWS DO YOU WATCH THAT YOU WISH OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WATCHED?

Weird question to post on my blog, I guess. And I could skip it. But also, I'm not shy about admitting my guilty-pleasure TV-time. What are some shows I watch that I haven't talked about? "Cupcake Girls"...totally cute. I'm not ashamed of it, though. Plus: Canada! "Extreme Couponing"? Love it, but everyone I know has beef with it. "Ruby"--such a pleasure. i wish I knew that woman in person. Any sitcom from the 80s/90s, basically, that is on reruns or Netflix. My Two Dads, Wings, Coach, The Nanny, Who's the Boss, Blossom...the only ones I won't touch are Raymond, Curb Your Enthusiasm (might not be 90s...), Simpsons (why intelligent people claim this show is smart, I'll never understand), anything with the "Fat-guy-pretty-wife" scenario [tm Jack McFarland!]...okay, I could go on and on with this. I'm feeling fussy.

WHO ARE YOU MAD AT RIGHT NOW?

Ha! I'm in a bad mood, so perhaps it isn't the right time to answer this...

WHAT SONGS HAVE YOU REQUESTED TO A DJ?

I only remember calling Q97 in 7th grade and requesting "Please Don't Go Girl." I waited all weekend and they never played it. :(

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES?

Zero. God, should I even *try* to go to Harry Potter land?

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PERSONAL CHANGES YOU'VE EVER MADE?

I hate these all-caps, seriously. I only did it like that because that's how they are in the calendar but now they're pissing me off.

Ironically, not being such a bitch all the time. Hard to tell on days like today, though. :)
Losing weight, but should that count since gaining it all back?
Adopting a more patient attitude to life. Sometimes...

-What are things you wish you had invented?

I'm not doing all-caps anymore. Also this is a dumb question. Uhh...the internet? I'd be so rich now.

-What are your favorite musicals?

Ahhhh, good. Let's end on one I actually care about. Excellent work, Wednesday February 2!

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (if it's touring near you, GO JUST GO. You will thank me. And die laughing. And it's so short--no intermission!)

Rent (f'rever. From the tuning-up/plaid pants to the BLAST that is the titular song to Mimi's glitter-hair to table-dancing at Lifecafe to Angel wracked with coughs [oh dear heavens I'm gonna cry] to the chills at seeing him run out again for the curtain call...it will never not be amazing. Okay, unless I see it seven times in one semester or two nights in a row again.)

West Side Story (normally I'd go for stage musicals over movie versions, but as the movie made me fall in love with musicals, I'm going for the film here. Despite Natalie's and Richard's lip-syncing...despite the complete change from the original libretto...I'll always love it best.)

I can't get enough of plenty of others either...Oklahoma, Sound of Music (again, movie only) Fiddler, Children of Eden (I know, it's about god stuff! But I like it anyway!), Music Man, She Loves Me, Secret Garden, Dolly, Pippin, Drood, Merrily, Producers, Ave. Q, Birdie, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods (Or, Maplewood-style--"INNATHEWOODS"), Annie, The Boy Friend, Les Mis, Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, Phantom, Cats (I'm not ashamed! That sh!t's entertaining!), Wicked, Cabaret, Fantasticks, Grease, King & I, Little Shop, Oliver, Mamma Mia, Ragtime (pretty much just for Sarah Brown Eyes)...

Middle-of-the-road (I'd see them again, but only if someone I knew was in it. or a celeb I adored): Anything Goes, Showboat, Chorus Line, Brigadoon, Chicago, Forum, Gypsy, JC Superstar, Man/La Mancha, My Fair Lady.

...but I can do forever without Joseph/Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Passion (when Sondheim effs up, he effs up good), Best/Whorehouse, Godspell, A Little Night Music, Sunday/Park/George (despite my love for Seurat), Miss Saigon (OHHHMYGOD SO BAD), Carousel, Cinderella, Hair, How to Succeed, Pajama Game, Lion King, Once/Mattress, Urinetown